Vehicle signaling device



E.- N. TAYLOR. VEHICLE SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I7, 1918.

1 ,3 1 6, 1 2 1 Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

EDWIN N. TAYLOR, or CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

VEHICLE SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16, 19121.

Application filed August 17, 1918. Serial No. 250,343.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN N. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in thecounty of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Signaling Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automobiles and other conveyances, and has for its object to provide convenient means to indicate directions about tolbe taken by such conveyances.

As is well known, the usual manner of denoting the course to be taken by an automobile, when deviating from its direct course, is the throwing out of a hand on one side or the other. This is at times inconvenient, as when a left-hand driver wishes to turn to the right, and must move from his sitting position in order to make his right hand visible at the right of the machine, or vice versa, and i always inadequate at night. This invention provides a simple signaling device, operable by a touch, and giving a clear indication to those before or behind.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is an elevation of a device embodying my invention, as seen from the drivers seat in a left-hand driven car. Fig. 2 is a central, vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a central, horizontal section of a modified type of the same, adapted to be operated electrically. Fig. 4 is a central, vertical section of the device shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows a magnet and connections adapted to operate the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2. y

In the drawing, thenumeral 1 denotes the cowl; 2 the steering-post; 3 the steeringwheel; 4 thewind-shield, and 5 the windshield support of an automobile. These are of a familiar type, and need no description. My improved signaling device is herein shown attached to the wind-shield support, and at the leftside of the car. It is to be understood, however, that it may be attached at any other desired point on the car, and is supposed to be provided at both sides, though here shown only at one.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 6 denotes a drum or casing provided with a base 7, whose lugs 8 may be attached to the wind-shield support by clips 9. The lugs are also pierced at 10, so as to be bolted or screwed to a fiat surface, if desired. In practice the casing is best formed of two sections, one having the base, and an outer section 11 carrying the signal apparatus to be described presently. These parts are hinged at 12, so as to swing vertically, and a suitable catch at 13 latches them together. This is for convenience in attaching and detaching the lamp 14. set in its socket 1 5, and preferably provided with a reflector 16 to throw its rays outwardly. The casing is designed to form a practically dust and weather proof inclosure for an electric lamp, its switch, and electromagnets for operating the semaphore, when such electro-magnets are used for the purpose.

The outer portion of the casing is nearly cylindrical, closed at the upper half, and open below, so as to allow for the swing of a semaphore 17 pivoted at its center. The outer portion of the semaphore is preferably formed to resemble an arrow, as seen from the front or back. Its inner portion conforms to the shape of the casing, especially the upper, part thereof, being an arc of a circle concentric to the pivot, and lying close to the curved part of the casing above it. This serves as a closure for the semaphore, as well as the opening at the side of the easing from which the semaphore projects. It is of course important that rain, snow, or dust be excluded from the interior of the semaphore, especially when electrically operated. To be so operated practically the poise of the semaphore must be delicate, with but little preponderating weight at the outer end, and if while hanging down the semaphore partially fills with heavy matter of any kind, the actuation of the semaphore is likely to be impaired. In practice it is made mainly of sheet metal, and painted a distinctive signal color, red or green. The inner, forked ends may straddle the lamp, and to them are attached heavy plates 18 to nearly counterpoise the arrows, so that a very light pull will lift the arrow from its normal, depending position, indicated by the dotted lines, to a horizontal position, as shown. The middle portions of the arrow are slotted, front and back, to form much more slender arrows 19. These are extended back to within the casing so as to form the feathers of the arrow, and corresponding holes 20 are formed in the casing, so that when in horizontal position a full, clear arrow of light will be exhibited at night. These openings are closed on the inside of the main arrow by strips of colored glass, or the like transparency, red or green, as desired. The

construction of the semaphore is such that the glass need not be cut arrow-shaped, but may be simple rectangular strips, as indicated in Fig. 2.

To elevate the semaphore to signaling position a number of devices are herein shown. In Figs. 1 and 2 a manually operating device is illustrated. Near the pivot of the semaphore is attached a pull-cord 21, passing through a hole 22 in the casing base, and thence about sheaves 23 and 24, and up the steering-post to a connection with a small lever 25 clipped to the post. When thrown to'the position shown in Fig. l the lever comes to a stop 26, and thus locks the semaphore in signaling position, since the pull ofrthe cord is across the pivot of the lever. A touch releases the lever, when the semaphore drops to normal position, by reason of a slight preponderance of weight in the outwardly extended part of it.

In Fig. 5 is shown the connection of a magnet with the pull-cord, so that the operator need not reach to the steering-post, but may manipulate an electric switch 27 attached to the steering-wheel. A magnet 28 is closed into. an electric circuit, as from a battery 29, by said switch, and actuates a bell-crank armature 30, to the long arm of which the pull-cord connects Provision is made for the lighting of an electric lamp to illuminate the semaphore, when it reaches signaling position. Referring to Fig. 2 a simple, spring-blade circuit-closer 81 is shown mounted near the base of the casing. This switch is in circuit with a source of electrical energy 32, through the conductors a, Z) and c. When the semaphore reaches the horizontal a shoulder 33 has engaged the upper blade of the switch and closed the circuit. As soon as the semaphore is released the switch automatically opens.

The preferred device for raising the semaphore is a directly connected magnet 34:, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. By reason of its longer stroke, this is almost necessarily of the solenoid type. To the core of the solenoid is attached a short rack 35 engaging a partial pinion 36. The solenoid is energized from137 by conductors (Z, c and f, in the same manner as the magnet above described. From this-an auxiliary circuit 5/, hand 21 leads to the lamp, so-that the operator controls thesemaphore and its lighting by'the switchl97. The principal advantage ofthis construction over the'othermagnetic control is that the connections from the steeringepost switch, to the. casing are simply electric wires, and may be made inconspicuous, or entirely concealed, whereas it is necessary to attach the other magnet at some suitable pulling point, as to the cowl, and connect the semaphor thereto by a pullcord, not easily concealed.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the outer end of the semaphore is formed as a reflector 38, to throw laterally the rays from the lamp opposite. This may be used with or without the reflector 16, above referred to.

To disconnect the lamp from the electric circuit, in the absence of a separate switch, such as a button-socket, the bulb may be unscrewed slightly to break the connection. This rendered easy and simple by reason of the hinged casing, the whole outer part of the apparatus being tilted up bodily, and without disturbing any of the operative parts. The device is designed to be used with or without a light, the latter being unnecessary in the caseof vehicles which operate only by daylight, such as trucks and the like.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a signaling device, a casing composed of two parts hinged together, means for securing the same to some part of an automobile, an electric lamp seated in the attached part, a hollow semaphore pivoted in the other part of the casing, and receiving interiorly light from said lamp, and means for tilting the semaphore to signaling position and simultaneously lighting the lamp, the casing being swingable to give ac cess to the lamp and its accessories without disturbing said tilting means.

In a signaling device, a casing having a side opening to allow for the up and down swing of a semaphore, a hollow semaphore having a forked inner end entering the open ing in the casing, and provided with heavy cheek-plates to counterpoise the arm of the semaphore, and with lateral pivots bearing in opposite sides of the casing, and disposed practically central to the weight of the soma- 'phore, an electric lamp set in the casing opposite said opening, a switch therefor closed by the semaphore when elevated, a magnet, in the light circuit, a switch therefor, and a connection of the magnet armature with the semaphore whereby a partial rotation is given to the semaphore pivot by the movement of said armature.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN N. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

A. T. Coornn, J. M. ST. JOHN.

Copies-0111119 patent, may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 6. 

